Camphor trees line many streets in Berkeley, including Sonoma Avenue, here. Planted decades ago, many of the camphors are nearing the end of their natural lifespan, but the drought is dispatching them even more quickly. A camphor at the end of the right row here was removed this summer, as well as two more around […]
Mary Flaherty
Mary Flaherty is a freelance reporter who has lived in the Berkeley area for since 1994. She earned a masters in journalism from UC Berkeley, and has reported for several local papers and copyedited for the San Francisco Chronicle.
Posted inNature
Tilden Park exceeds goals in cutting its water usage
The lawns outside the Environmental Education Center, near Tilden Park’s LIttle Farm, have been left to turn brown to save water. Photo: Mary Flaherty The lawns outside the Environmental Education Center, near Tilden Park’s LIttle Farm, have been left to turn brown to save water. Photo: Mary Flaherty Berkeley’s Tilden Park reports that it reduced […]
Posted inSchools
Berkeley School Board primer: Decision time for board on overcrowding
Turning the Berkeley Adult School into a new grade school is being considered as a long-term solution to overcrowding. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel Turning the Berkeley Adult School into a new grade school is being considered as a long-term solution to overcrowding. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel The Berkeley schools Board of Education meets tonight, Jan. 14, for a closed session at 6 […]
Posted inSchools
Berkeley School Board primer: Discussion of overcrowding solutions continues
The Berkeley School Board, at an August 2014 meeting. Photo: Mark Coplan/BUSD The Berkeley School Board, at an August 2014 meeting. Photo: Mark Coplan/BUSD The Berkeley schools Board of Education meets tonight (Wednesday, Dec. 10) for a closed session at 6 p.m., followed by its regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. See the Dec. 10 agenda packet. Ty Alper, elected in November, […]
Posted inSchools
Cal students make crowd-funding site for Berkeley schools
Students at Emerson Elementary School with tutors from the LEARNS Program, one of the programs currently seeking a grant on the crowd-funding Friends & Family Grants website created by a group of UC Berkeley students. Photo: Diane Dew Students at Emerson Elementary School with tutors from the LEARNS Program, one of the programs currently seeking a grant […]
Posted inSchools
Berkeley School Board primer: Soda tax panel, new personnel commissioner, recess restriction
The Berkeley School Board at an August 2014 meeting. Photo: Mark Coplan/BUSD The Berkeley School Board at an August 2014 meeting. Photo: Mark Coplan/BUSD The Berkeley schools Board of Education meets tonight (Wednesday, Nov. 19) for a closed session at 6 p.m., followed by its regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. Follow along via the Nov. 19 agenda packet. The board will […]
Posted inSchools
School board reviews recess restriction as punishment
Berkeley is discussing the pros and cons of taking recess time away from kids as a form of punishment. Photo: Nick Kenrick Two years ago, Berkeley parent Sinead O’Sullivan got tired of hearing from her kindergartener that he was missing recess for misbehaving. She knew he wasn’t a saint, but she didn’t think taking exercise […]
Posted inSchools
School Board considers options for tackling student surge
More space is needed at Berkeley schools to accommodate an estimated 250 new students in the next three years. Photo: BUSD With an extra 250 students projected to crowd into Berkeley schools in the coming three years, the school board considered a long list of options for creating space at its Nov. 5 meeting. The board […]
Posted inSchools
Challenger Ty Alper gets seat on Berkeley School Board; third seat too close to call
Ty Alper (second from left) on the campaign trail in September. Photo: Ty Alper for School Board Ty Alper, a challenger, has won a seat on the Berkeley School Board with the most votes – so far — in a close race, while incumbent Josh Daniels received the second-to-most votes. The race for the third […]
Posted inSchools
Berkeley School Board primer: enrollment and capacity, recess restriction, emergency preparedness
The Berkeley School Board, at an August 2014 meeting. Photo: Mark Coplan/BUSD The Berkeley School Board, at an August 2014 meeting. Photo: Mark Coplan/BUSD The Berkeley schools Board of Education meets tonight (Wednesday, Nov. 5) for a closed session at 6 p.m., followed by its regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. Follow along via the Nov. 5 agenda packet. The board will […]
Posted inSchools
Berkeley School Board primer: BCCE union contract, compensation report on the agenda
The Berkeley School Board, at an August meeting. Photo: Mark Coplan/BUSD The Berkeley School Board, at an August meeting. Photo: Mark Coplan/BUSD The Berkeley schools Board of Education meets tonight (Wednesday, Oct. 22) for a closed session at 6 p.m., followed by its regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. Follow along via the Oct. 22 agenda packet. The board is scheduled to […]
Posted inSchools
Berkeley School Board primer: English Learner master plan and increasing enrollment are on the agenda
The Berkeley School Board meets Wednesdays twice a month. Photo: Mark Coplan/BUSD The Berkeley schools Board of Education meets tonight (Wednesday, Oct. 8) for a closed session at 6 p.m., followed by its regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. Follow along via the agenda packet. The board will discuss the district’s English Learner Master Plan. It will also begin a four-part […]